Jack White Donates $200,000 for Sound Preservation Effort

Jack White has donated $200,000 to the National Recording Preservation Foundation, an organization dedicated to safeguarding the nation's recorded sound history. White's donation is the first the group has received, Billboard reports.

"With this contribution we can now put up our basic structure, begin enacting the preservation plan – and give out our first grants. We're committed to doing that right away, and certainly within the coming months," Executive Director Gerald Seligman said.

The National Recording Preservation Foundation, established as a component of the National Preservation Act, is an independent, non-profit charity affiliated with the Library of Congress. The group's mission is to support libraries, archives and cultural institutions in their quest to preserve radio, music and recorded sound. The inaugural gift from White will allow the foundation to begin awarding grants as part of its preservation plan.

White also sits on the board of the foundation, and chairman Sam Brylawski hopes that his influence will inspire others in the music industry to contribute in order "to help ensure that we are able to preserve and make accessible recent and historical recordings at risk of loss."

It's the latest charitable contribution from White, who earlier this year paid $143,000 to help save the Detroit Masonic Temple from foreclosure.